Transylvania Falls Just Short in NCAA National Championship Quest

May 17, 2013

Release courtesy of Transylvania University

DESTIN, FL – After a tight battle through
most of the day Friday, Texas Tyler pulled away from Transylvania
over the final handful of holes to capture the 2013 NCAA Division
III Men's Golf Championship at the Sandestin Golf Resort.

The Pioneers led Texas Tyler by two strokes heading into the final
round and were seeking the school's first NCAA National
Championship. Instead, Transy winds up as the national runners-up
for the second consecutive year.

Texas Tyler had a final round of 289 while Transy came in at 298
to finish seven shots out of first. Texas Tyler had a total of 1167
compared to 1,174 for Transy with third-ranked Methodist third at
1,188. Emory was next at 1,191, followed by Claremont Mudd Scripps
(1,194), Gustavus Adolphus, St. John's, and La Verne.

“It was quite an experience for our team to go into the
final round of a national championship with the lead,” said
head coach Brian
Lane. “I thought we battled them tough all day. We
may have come up a little bit short, and we are disappointed for
now, we can't lose sight of how well we competed this week. To
finish as national runner-up for two straight years is quite an
accomplishment.”

His 72, one over par on the Raven Course, was Transy's best score
of the day. Jantzen
Latham had a 73 for a 294 and Ben
Fister carded a 75 for a 292. Senior Stephen
Montgomery's final collegiate round was a 78, placing him
at 305. Hunter
Frazier had a second straight 80 for a 309.

Fister was 10th individually while Latham was in 16th place.

Transylvania has never won a team national championship in any
sport. Both the men's basketball and men's soccer teams have
advanced to the round of eight and last year's men's golf team was
the national runner-up. In 1999, the women's soccer team lost in
the finals of the NAIA National Championship.

The field was cut to the top 15 teams for the final 36 holes.
Transy, ranked No. 11 nationally heading into the event, finished
second to Oglethorpe in last year's championship. The Championship
initially featured 41 teams and 210 participants overall. Of the
nation's top 25 teams, 19 were in the field. The Pioneers are in
the NCAA field for the seventh year in a row.